Daily Republican., 1887-10-04
Our NJ. L0uts Letter.
o.rrss,cn fence Of the KupusL,oAu.

at the National Encampment at Vt,
Louis, l will try to put In writing my
observations aud Impressions.
Past Dept. McNair, wife and dsngh.
ter and myself left Wilmington via the
b & o. r. r., on sundsy, September
20, at noon. reaching Baltimore, where
we joined the Maryland delegation,
who had chartered sleeper and were
accompanied by Wilson Post Guards
in another sleeper.
A large number of the friends Of the
Maryland delegation we're present to
Igive them a good send off and bid
them goodbye.
Our ride from Wilmington over the
new road to Baltimore was interesting
and pleasant, the finest view being
from the b. and o. bridge over the
Susquehanna.
AT Washington, which we reached
about 3 O'Clock, the train stopped
about one-half hour, and passed over
the ground so much tr0dden by the
Union and rebel armies during the war
labout Harper's Ferry and Martins
burg before dark, giving usja view of
old places where many of us had lain
many night with nothing but q
woolen or gum blanket between us
and the bare ground or the sky. Soon
after dark we retired to our berths for
the night, and in our sleep or dreams
were carried over the mountains,
through the valleys, across the Ohio
at Parkersburg. and saw very little of
the country till we neafed Cincinnati,
which we reached about 10 O. m. OF
Monday, 26th.
Ipassed the day, till Z o'clock p. m ;,
travelling over the city and visiting all
points Of interest, the most prominent
being their two bridges across the
Ohio and their inclined railroad up the
hill to the Highland House. AT the
Idepot, before leaving. we were joined
by comrades King and Burleigh, also
on their way to the National Encsmp.
ment, and our car was put in the first
section of a very large train, of which
there were several sections crowded
with people on theirsway to St. Louis
to see the G. A. II. parade and the
decorations of the city. Before leav.
ling Cincinnati the rain commenced
falling. and has been falling with very
few Intern issions ever since.
l We passed over the road at night
and reached ST. Louis Tuesday morn.
ling about 8 O'Clock, and found crowds
tramping through muddy streets to get
Ipositions from which to view the
Iparade. About noon horsemen rode
along the route of parade and informed
the disappointed crowds that on &C.
count OF the rain the parade would moi
take place until the next day-Wed
nesday. The balance of the day was
spent: in renewing old acquaintancef
formed with comrades during former
encampments, and in the. evening in
; ATTENDING grand reception given by
: the city OF St. Louis and the State ol
; Missouri, at the Chamber of Com
merce. Here, after some fine selec
tons from fine orchestra, speeches
were made by the Mayor OF the city,
the Governor of the State, Commander
] in Chief of the Grand Army, seyera
Iold war Governors of various States,
Iex.Vice President Hannibal Hamlin o.
Maine, who is delegate to the en-
campment; Gen. Sherman and others
: On Wednesday morning the parade
, took place, but was unsatisfactory or
! account of the very muddy streets anG
the rain, which at times came dowr
almost ia torrents, and although sew.
!eral thousand old comrades marched
Through the mud, it was but fraction
tof what would have turned out if tn,
weather had been fine.
l AT 3p. IN. the National Encamp
Iment was called TO order in the hal
connected with the Exposition build
ing, and after properly organizing ant
hearing the reports of the Nationa
Iofficers, Of which that of the Com
lmander in. Chief was the most inter
esting, adjourned to meet the next day
at 9 a, m, which they did, and passe(
lsome very important resolutions
among them one in favor of the Dis
liability Pension Bill. which the Pen
ksion Committee expect to have passet
bo Congress at its next session. Ais
ono naming Columbus, Ohio, as tht
place of meeting OF the next encamp
tment.
i Their session was continued mex
day, Friday, Sept. Both, during whicl
Important business for the Gran
Army was transacted, and Comradt
John p. Rea, of Minnesota, was electe'
as our next Commander in Chief, ant
the Encampment adjourned sine die a
1880 O'Clock, p. m. Sitting in the En-
tcampment were about 600 comrades
representing the best and bravest o
q the old Union army, and consequently
: 1t took the best skill of the Comman
der.in-chief Fairchilds to guide ant
keep them in order
| Among other entertainments enjoy
led by us was visit to Schnaider'
Garden on Wednesday ewing, where ,
, musical entertainment WAS given un
der the direction of the General Com
kmittee
On Thursday evening the Trades
parade took place. The streets alons
(which it passed were illuminated with
Igaslights covered with various colOred
Iglobes, placed in the form of archel
about the curbstones and in front o
the buildings, at the rate of about O.
flights for every front OF about 20 feet
Fighting up the streets as bright al
Iday. The parade, while not one tentf
as long as the one in Philadelphia
was in my opinion much more attrac
tive on account of the Illuminated
streets and the brilliantly lighted floats
lin the parade.
| 1t started exactly at the appointed
hour, half past seven p. m. and with
out any halts occupied nearly an hour
lin passing given point. After view.
ling the parade went to the reception
given by the city to the Ladies' Relic
. ICorps of the G.. A. r. at the Mer